Segregation mechanism



June 11, 1963 7- 2 35 I104 g; 7 T%;;3Z E -35 4% I L. E. WORCESTER ETALSEGREGATION MECHANISM Filed May 6. 1960 5 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTORS:LES/J5 EWOEGSTEB y QoaelzrLuNouwooo A T TORNEY June 1963 E. WORCESTERETAL 3,093,245

SEGREGATION MECHANISM Filed May 6. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS: LesuE. W02c5r2 By 205527 [.Jflvaeewooa 2%(1fl Md ATTORNEY) United StatesPatent O 3,093,245 SEGREGATION MECHANISM Leslie E. Worcester and RobertL. Underwood, Sunnyvale, Calif assignors, by mesne assignments, toIllumitronic Systems Corporation, a corporation of California Filed May6, 1960, Ser. No. 27,447 6 Claims. (Cl. 209-121) This invention relatesto a rejection system and more particularly relates to a mechanismwherein packages of merchandise or sirnilar articles can be segregatedinto a plurality of groups dependent upon some particular property, suchas the weight, of the articles.

Segregation or rejection systems which have heretofore been known aresuitable for use at relatively low speeds. With modern packagingequipment, which frequently operates at rates of several hundredarticles per minute, the systems heretofore used are not fullysatisfactory. Most of such systems heretofore used have depended upon agate of some kind which can be swung from side to side, diverting thearticles. The gate is ordinarily swung when the article is in its pathor just before the article comes into the path of the gate but, ineither case, when articles are moving at high speeds they are easilyknocked over or injured by the relatively rough treatment of passingthrough the swinging gate. Further, it is difficult to secure the properoperation of such gates at high rates of speed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a segregation systemwhereby the articles can be segregated into a plurality of paths at highspeed, yet are subject only to gentle forces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a segregation systemwherein a series of carriers are used for the articles being segregatedwherein the carriers are diverted in such manner that they will follow adesired path, said diversion taking place before the articles come intocontact with the carrier.

A further object of this invention is to provide a segregation systemwhich is of relatively inexpensive construction and which is capable ofrunning for extending periods of time without breakdowns or therequirement for service.

Other objects will be apparent from the balance of the specificationwhich follows.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the lines 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the lines 33 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE1;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view, partially cutaway, of the device shownin FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a section on the lines 66 of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan View of the mechanical switch.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 showing the parts in a deflectedposition.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one of the carrier members.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown aweighing device 8 which is adapted to actuate a double throw switch 10when an object passes over the weighing device. The switch 10 closes afirst circuit when an article passing over the scale is overweight andcloses a second circuit when an article is underweight. Neither circuitis closed when the article is of the correct weight. The exact weighingmechanism forms no part of the present invention and is thus notdescribed in detail. Suflice it to say that the device includes anendless belt 12 which serves both to convey the articles and as aplatform for the scales. The weighing mechanism also includes a pair ofguide rails 14 and a pair of rollers 16 for guiding and supporting thearticles from the scale onto the segregation device which forms thepresent invention. The weighing mechanism may also include a light 11,which shines across the path of movement of the objects, in which casethe switch 10 will incorporate a photoelectric cell, the interruption ofthe path of light serving to activate the switch.

The segregation device proper includes a pair of sprockets 18 mountedfor rotation on shaft 20, which is driven by the chain 22 from a sourceof power, not shown. A second pair of sprockets 24 are mounted on theidler shaft 26. Endless roller chains 28 and 30 are mounted betweensprockets 18 and 24 to provide two parallel endless chains moving in thesame direction. Mounted between the chains 28 and 30 are a series ofsmooth, round rods 32. Preferably two rods are mounted on adjacent pins,two pins are left blank, and so on, but other arrangements of the rodson the chains can be employed. It will thus be apparent that as theshaft 20 is driven, the series of rods 32 will form a moving path overwhich articles can be conveyed. On each pair of adjacent rods 32 acarrier member 34 is free to slide. The carrier member has a base 36which serves as a platform to convey the articles. The base 36 may ormay not have upstanding flanges 38 and mayor may not have a center rib40. Holes 42 having bushings 43 are provided in each carrier member sothat the carrier can be mounted on two adjacent rods 32. The flanges 38,if used, extend above the rib 40 and the holes 42 so that the flanges 38extend above the level of the top surfaces of the rods 32. On the bottomside of the base 36 are mounted two pins 44, the function of which willbe later described. It will be noted from the drawings that the flanges38 are separated by a distance somewhat greater than the separationbetween the guide rails 14. Located beyond the path of travel providedby the rods 32 are three endless belts 46, 48 and 50 for the purpose ofconveying articles after they have been segregated. With the structurethus far described, it is apparent that the carriers 34 are free toslide back and forth on the rods 32 and when once placed in a certainposition laterally will maintain that position unless forcefullydisplaced.

Located on each side of the mechanism are a pair of solenoids 52 and 54which are connected by means of wiring 56 and 58 to the switch :on theweighing mechanism 10. Each solenoid comprises a winding 60 around asuitable hollow core 62 into which an armature 64 will be drawn when thecoil is energized. Connected between the armatures is a cable 66 passingover a pulley 63 to the mechanical switch, generally designated 70. Itwill be understood that the solenoids and pulleys are duplicated andthat the one on the opposite side from that shownin FIGURE 4 actuatesthe cable 66 in the opposite direction.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 4, 5, 7 and 8, the mechanicalswitch '70 is located at a convenient place on the path of travel of therods under the segregator. The mechanical switch inclcdes a frame member74 having attached thereto two leaf springs 76 and 78. The leaf springsare provided with guides 77 through which the cable 66 passes. Betweenthe springs 76 and 78 a spacer 72 is provided which is attached to cable66. When neither of the solenoids is actuated, the leaf springs 76 and78 remain at rest in the position shown in FIGURE 7. Then, as a calrier34 passes over the switch, the pins 44 move on each side thereof as isshown in FIGURE 7 and the carriers 34 are thus not displaced by theswitch. In FIGURE 8 is shown the action of the mechanical switch whenone of the solenoids is actuated. Here solenoid 54 has been actuated,resulting in the displacement of the leaf spring 76 as is shown. Then,as a carrier 34 moves into the switch, one of the pins 4 4 strikes theopen leaf 76, diverting the carrier to the path shown in dashed lines inFIGURE 8.

Spacer support bars 81 are provided between the chains and support aplate 83, which serves to catch any spilled material. Mounted on spacersupport bars 81 are a pair of rails 80 and 82 having upstanding flanges84 and 86 thereon. The flanges are angled generally in the positionshown, but at the point where the flanges tend to converge, they areflattened for a short distance, as is shown at 88. The separationbetween the two flanges at the point 88 is just slightly greater thanthe separation between a pair of pins 44. Thus, if one of the carriers34 moves in an undiverted path, as is shown in FIGURE 7, when it comesto the rail flanges 84 and 86, the pins 44 will pass between the flangesand the carrier will remain undeflected and continue on a straight pathas is shown by the carriers at 90 and in FIGURE 2. On the other hand, ifthe action of the mechanical switch 70 has been such as to deflect thecarrier slightly to one side or the other, one of the pins 44 will beengaged by one of the flanges 84 or 86 and the carrier will thus bepropelled along a diagonal path and an article thereon will follow thispath. Thus, the carriers 92 and 94 in FIGURE 1 have had pins engaged bythe flange 86 and have been diverted on the diagonal path shown. FIG-URE 3 shows how the pin is engaged. It vw'll be obvious that if acarrier is undiverted it will deliver its load to the belt 48 While, ifit has been deflected to the right as have been the carriers 92 and 94,the carrier will deliver its load to the belt 50. If deflected to theleft, the carrier will deliver its load to the belt 46.

Under the path of travel, a somewhat similar pair of rails 98 and 100having flanges 102 and 104 thereon are mounted on bars 81. These flangesare slightly further apart at their divergent ends and slightly closertogether at their convergent ends, as is shown, so that the pins 44 ofall of the carriers will pass inside of the flanges 102 and 104,regardless of the position of the carrier on the rods. Thus, if thecarrier is on one side or the other at the time it delivers its load, asit passes under the device on the return trip, one of the pins 44 willengage one of the flanges 102 or 104, depending upon which side thecarrier happens to be, and will be propelled along a diagonal path backto the center position, so that all carriers will again be centered atthe time they encounter mechanical switch 70. The exact manner in whichthis is accomplished is shown more clearly in FIGURE 6. Here it will benoted that the pin 44 has come into contact with the inside edge offlange 102, causing the carrier 34 to slide along the rods 32 and thusbecome recentered.

Although the segregating device has been described in conjunction with ascale wherein articles within a given tolerance move in a straight path,while those which are underor over-weight are diverted to other paths,it will be obvious that the segregating device need not be used with ascale but can be used in any instance wherein it is desired to segregatearticles. For instance, instead of the scale 8, one might have a devicefor detecting whether artices were above or below a certain sizelimitation, to determine Whether a box was fully filled or under filled,or to segregate articles as to color or other characteristics. It isalso obvious that the exact form of scale need not be used and thatother means could be used to replace the solenoids for displacing thecarriers to the proper path.

It will be obvious that the mechanical switch 70 must be located in sucha manner that articles passing over the belt 12 will arrive at a carrierat the proper time. This can most easily be accomplished by making thedistance between the mechanical switch and the position where thecarriers pick up the articles equal to the distance between the pointwhere the articles are weighed and then are picked up by a carrier andby having the weighing belt 12 and the segregator chains move at thesame speed. However, other synchronization means can be used.

The distance between flanges 38 of the carrier must be slightly greaterthan the width of the articles to be conveyed thereby. In other words,the carrier must be shiftable by at least the width of a flange plus thewidth of a pin and still be wide enough to present an unobstructedopening to articles coming onto the segregating conveyor. As haspreviously been mentioned, the distance between the rails -14 is lessthan the distance between the flanges 38, so that a flange neverobstructs an article regardless of the position of the carrier.

In the operation of the device, it has been assumed that each carrierwould carry one article. However, the device is adapted to handlearticles considerably longer than one carrier, so that the deflection ofthe switch 70 can be set so that 2, 3, or even more carriers are actedupon at each weighing, or like measurement, so that longer articles caneasily be handled.

Although in its preferred embodiment the device of the present inventionprovides three exit lanes, it will be obvious that a two way segregatingdevice can be built wherein articles of the correct weight move in onepath and those articles which are overand underweight are shunted to thesecond path. To accomplish this, it is only necessary to eliminate theupper and lower rails on one side of the device, together with one ofthe solenoids and associated switch. Of course, if this is done, therods 32 can be made considerably shorter. On the other hand, asegregating device can be built utilizing more than three lanes by usingmultiple switches which act successively on the carriers. Thus, if twoswitches were used five lanes could be provided, and so on.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided a simplesegregating mechanism which is capable of operating at high rates ofspeed and yet which handles the articles gently.

We claim:

1. A segregation device comprising:

(a) an endless conveyor;

(b) means for driving said conveyor in a single direction;

(c) a plurality of carriers slidably mounted on said conveyor formovement laterally thereof perpendicular to the direction of movement ofsaid conveyor each of said carriers having a cam follower thereon;

(d) first cam means below and adjacent said conveyor, said cam meansbeing so mounted that when in a first position the cam follower of acarrier passing thereby will be engaged and the carrier thereby divertedslightly from its path and when in a second position the cam follower ofa carrier passing-thereby the carrier will not be contacted by said camand will not be diverted from its path;

(2) means for changing the position of said cam;

(f) second cam means positioned adjacent the said conveyor at a pointalong the path of travel thereof subsequent to said first cam means,said second cam means being so positioned that the cam follower of adiverted carrier passing thereby will be contacted and will be furtherdiverted from its path as the conveyor moves and a non-diverted carrierwill not be contacted and diverted;

(g) and a loading station for said conveyor intermediate the said firstand said second cam means.

2. A segregation device comprising:

(a) an endless conveyor consisting of a series of parallel rods securedto spaced parallel chains at opposite ends of said rods;

(b) means for driving said conveyor in a single direction;

(0) a plurality of carriers slidably mounted on said rods for movementlaterally thereof perpendicular to the direction of movement of saidconveyor each of said carriers having a cam follower thereon;

(d) first cam means below and adjacent said conveyor, said cam meansbeing so mounted that when in a first position the cam follower of acarrier passing thereby will be engaged and the carrier thereby divertedslightly from its path and when in a second position the cam follower ofa carrier passing thereby will not be contacted by said cam and thecarrier will not be diverted from its path;

(e) means for changing the position of said cam;

(1'') second cam means positioned adjacent the said conveyor at a pointalong the path of travel thereof subsequent to said first cam means,said second cam means being so positioned that the cam follower of adiverted carrier passing thereby will be contacted and will be furtherdiverted from its path as the conveyor moves and a non-diverted carrierwill not be contacted and diverted;

(g) and a loading station for said conveyor intermediate the said firstand said second cam means.

3. A segregation device comprising:

(a) an endless conveyor consisting of a series of parallel rods securedto spaced parallel chains at opposite ends of said rods;

(b) means for driving said conveyor in a single direction;

(c) a plurality of carriers slidably mounted on said rods for movementlaterally thereof perpendicular to the direction of movement of saidconveyor each of said carriers having a cam follower thereon;

(d) first cam means below and adjacent said conveyor, said cam meansbeing so mounted that when in a first position the cam follower of acarrier passing thereby will be engaged and the carrier thereby divertedslightly from its path and when in a second position the cam follower ofa carrier passing thereby will not be contacted by said cam and thecarrier will not be diverted from its path;

(e) means for changing the position of said cam;

(f) second cam means positioned adjacent the said conveyor at a pointalong the path of travel thereof subsequent to said first cam means,said second cam means being so positioned that the calm follower of adiverted carrier passing thereby will be contacted and will be furtherdiverted from its path as the conveyor moves and a non-diverted carrierwill not be contacted and diverted;

(g) a third cam means positioned adjacent said conveyor belt along thepath of travel thereof subsequent to the said second cam means, saidthird cam means being so positioned that the cam follower of a divertedcarrier passing therealong will be contacted and the carrier therebywill be returned to an undiverted position on said conveyor andundiver-ted carriers will not be contacted by said third cam means;

(h) and a loading station for said conveyor intermediate the said firstand said second cam means.

4. A segregation device comprising:

(a) an endless conveyor;

(b) means for driving said conveyor;

(0) a plurality of carriers slidably mounted on said conveyor formovement laterally thereof and perpendicular to the direction ofmovement of said conveyor;

(d) a pin on each of the said carriers;

(e) a leaf spring mounted below and adjacent said conveyor, said leafspring being so mounted that when in a first position the pin of acarrier passing thereby will strike said spring and said carrier will bediverted slightly from its path and when said leaf spring is in a secondposition, said pin of said carrier will not be contacted by said leafspring;

(3) means for changing the position of said leaf spring;

(g) cam means positioned adjacent said conveyor at a point along thepath of travel thereof subsequent to said leaf spring, said oam meansbeing so positioned that a diverted carrier passing therealong will becontacted and will be further diverted from its path as the conveyorbelt moves and a non-diverted carrier will not be contacted anddiverted;

(h) and a loading station for said conveyor intermediate said leafspring and said cam means.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein each carrier has two pins dependingtherefrom and wherein a pair of leaf springs are mounted beneath thesaid conveyor, one of said leaf springs being positioned for contactwith one of said pins and the second of said leaf springs beingpositioned for contact with the other of said pins and wherein said cammeans comprises a pair of diverging guide rails positioned opposite oneanother for contact with one or the other of said downwardly dependingpins.

6. A segregation device comprising:

(a) an endless conveyor consisting of a plurality of rods, each rodbeing secured at either end thereof to one of a pair of spaced, parallelchains;

(b) means for advancing said conveyor;

(0) a plurality of carriers slidably mounted on said rods for movementlongitudinally of said rods and perpendicular to the direction ofmovement of said conveyor each of said carriers having at least a singlecam follower thereon;

(d) first cam means positioned below and adjacent said conveyor;

(e) means for moving said cam means into three different positions, saidfirst position permitting a carrier to pass thereby without contactingthe said cam means, the second position diverting the said carrier toone side by contacting a camfollower of the said carrier and the thirdposition diverting the carrier to, the opposite side by contacting a camfollower of the said carrier;

(1) second cam means positioned adjacent said conveyor at a point alongthe path of travel thereof subsequent to said first cam means, saidsecond cam: means being so positioned that a cam follower of a divertedcarrier passing therealong will be contacted and will be furtherdiverted from its path as the conveyor belt moves and a non-divertedcarrier will not be contacted and diverted;

(g) means for loading objects onto said carriers, said means beingpositioned between the first and second cam means;

(h) weighing means for said objects;

(i) and means joining said weighing means and the said first cam meansfor causing said first cam means to remain in said first position whenan object being weighed is a predetermined weight range, for causingsaid first cam means to move into said second position when an objectbeing weighed is under a predetermined weight and for causing said firstcam.- means to move into a third position when an object being weighedis over -a predetermined weight.

Mahaffy Apr. 18, 1961 Sea-born Nov. 21, 1961

1. A SEGREGATION DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR; (B) MEANSFOR DRIVING SAID CONVEYOR IN A SINGLE DIRECTION; (C) A PLURALITY OFCARRIERS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONVEYOR FOR MOVEMENT LATERALLYTHEREOF PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR EACHOF SAID CARRIERS HAVING A CAM FOLLOWER THEREON; (D) FIRST CAM MEANSBELOW AND ADJACENT SAID CONVEYOR, SAID CAM MEANS BEING SO MOUNTED THATWHEN IN A FIRST POSITION THE CAM FOLLOWER OF A CARRIER PASSING THEREBYWILL BE ENGAGED AND THE CARRIER THEREBY DIVERTED SLIGHTLY FROM ITS PATHAND WHEN IN A SECOND POSITION THE CAM FOLLOWER OF A CARRIER PASSINGTHEREBY THE CARRIER WILL NOT BE CONTACTED BY SAID CAM AND WILL NOT BEDIVERTED FROM ITS PATH; (E) MEANS FOR CHANGING THE POSITION OF SAID CAM;(F) SECOND CAM MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT THE SAID CONVEYOR AT A POINTALONG THE PATH OF TRAVEL THEREOF SUBSEQUENT TO SAID FIRST CAM MEANS,SAID SECOND CAM MEANS BEING SO POSITIONED THAT THE CAM FOLLOWER OF ADIVERTED CARRIER PASSING THEREBY WILL BE CONTACTED AND WILL BE FURTHERDIVERTED FROM ITS PATH AS THE CONVEYOR MOVES AND A NON-DIVERTED CARRIERWILL NOT BE CONTACTED AND DIVERTED; (G) AND A LOADING STATION FOR SAIDCONVEYOR INTERMEDIATE THE SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CAM MEANS.